Language: English
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label Number: 27361 6435-2
© 1999 Nuclear Blast Records
Review by Matt Coe for TheMetalPit.com
This seventh studio platter Holy allowed me the chance to witness U.D.O. live twice in one year- first a headlining spot with Raven opening in the late spring of 2000, followed by a Halloween date opening for the mighty Saxon. Both shows were at the Station in West Warwick, RI- the club infamous for the Great White fire that cost over 100 lives and injured many more. So this is an album near and dear to my metal heart- and I feel one of the best in his long solo career.
U.D.O. felt determined to establish his presence in all parts of the world with Holy- and opening with the monster title anthem, you cannot deny the pulsating keyboards that set up the narrative and guitar build up- bursting into a steady 4/ 4 metal groove as Udo eases his way into the vocals. “Raiders of Beyond” then kicks the record up 20 notches with a faster, undeniable riff that forces incessant head banging. “Shout It Out” is the requisite audience interactive song, the chorus built for call and response action. Other stellar tracks include “Thunder in the Tower” and the oddball funky “Cut Me Out”.
The bonus material includes four live versions of tracks from the album, and a demo version of “Recall the Sin”. I really think the Udo/Stefan Kaufmann songwriting and production team fires on all the right cylinders with this record- keeping the guitars sharp, the bass full and the drums punchy while Udo’s one of a kind vocals never lose their appeal.
Many will debate who is better at this point: U.D.O. or Accept. I think both possess their own strengths and characteristics that benefit the traditional metal fan overall. Why choose when you can enjoy both I say? Holy is one album that stands the test of time, so this should be an automatic pick up if you’ve missed out.
© 1999 Nuclear Blast Records
Review by Matt Coe for TheMetalPit.com
This seventh studio platter Holy allowed me the chance to witness U.D.O. live twice in one year- first a headlining spot with Raven opening in the late spring of 2000, followed by a Halloween date opening for the mighty Saxon. Both shows were at the Station in West Warwick, RI- the club infamous for the Great White fire that cost over 100 lives and injured many more. So this is an album near and dear to my metal heart- and I feel one of the best in his long solo career.
U.D.O. felt determined to establish his presence in all parts of the world with Holy- and opening with the monster title anthem, you cannot deny the pulsating keyboards that set up the narrative and guitar build up- bursting into a steady 4/ 4 metal groove as Udo eases his way into the vocals. “Raiders of Beyond” then kicks the record up 20 notches with a faster, undeniable riff that forces incessant head banging. “Shout It Out” is the requisite audience interactive song, the chorus built for call and response action. Other stellar tracks include “Thunder in the Tower” and the oddball funky “Cut Me Out”.
The bonus material includes four live versions of tracks from the album, and a demo version of “Recall the Sin”. I really think the Udo/Stefan Kaufmann songwriting and production team fires on all the right cylinders with this record- keeping the guitars sharp, the bass full and the drums punchy while Udo’s one of a kind vocals never lose their appeal.
Many will debate who is better at this point: U.D.O. or Accept. I think both possess their own strengths and characteristics that benefit the traditional metal fan overall. Why choose when you can enjoy both I say? Holy is one album that stands the test of time, so this should be an automatic pick up if you’ve missed out.
tags: udo, u.d.o., holy, 1999 flac,
Hello, the FLAC link looks dead. Thank you !
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